EDITOR'S NOTE: See also "Military History on the Web."

"Gas masks were given to some of our troop today and we expect ours tomorrow or the next day. It's France for us now." So wrote Edwin Dyer from Camp Wadsworth in South Carolina on 11 December 1917. There's no way of knowing exactly what was going through the eighteen-year-old's mind as he wrote that in a letter to his sister almost 80 years ago, but reading the letter with the knowledge of his fate gives those two lines a particular sadness. Within a few years, Ed and millions of others like him would be victims of the slow death wrought by gas warfare which began when the Germans introduced it against the French and British at Ypres, Belgium in 1915.

Letters such as this stir up a world of questions about what life was like for those who fought so gallantly and often gave their lives for their country in war. Many families include heroes like Edwin Dyer, and stories about their time in service to their country can really enrich a family history.

Their letters to family tell much about them personally. For instance, Edwin's letters reveal a cheerful personality. He was always teasing and forever begging for letters, photographs, and "eats" (especially cake). The fact that he wrote almost weekly (sometimes more) reflects a closeness to his family.

In one letter dated 7 August 1918, postmarked "Somewhere in France," he writes, "I have received a few Eagles [referring to the Brooklyn Eagle newspaper] since I sailed but I think the subscription ran out. I don't think it will pay to renew it, but you can send one of the old Eagles after you finish reading it at home, and every once in a while you can wrap an envelope around a Popular Mechanics or any old magazine, school paper, etc. and we will enjoy reading them." From Edwin's comment we realize how desperately the soldiers longed for anything from home to read while in the trenches.

Although the soldiers wrote home often, they were not allowed to reveal much about their situation. In one letter to his father, Edwin tells him, "Well Pop, I think this is the longest letter I have written since I was in Spartanburg, and I don't think the censor will spoil it either." He also tells his sister, "Hereafter, when you write you want to make the letters good & long and don't forget to write often because you can write and say all you want to while we can't." There were also long periods in the trenches when it was hard to write letters, so the soldiers were issued what Edwin calls "ready-made letter" or "field postal cards" to send home.

In order to find out more about where the soldiers were and what they were doing, we have to go to outside sources. It is essential to know when and where in the armed services a soldier served, and whether he or she was in the enlisted ranks or an officer. This information can be found in any number of places. Stories passed down can be helpful, but their accuracy is sometimes questionable. These stories can sometimes be verified by public sources such as local histories (check with the local library or historical society). Cemeteries often provide vital clues, as veterans will sometimes have information about military service on their grave markers (military branch, rank, and/or unit). Other sources might be scrapbooks, news clippings, photographs (especially of the person in uniform), medals, journals or diaries, and memorabilia.

Once the facts have been established, we can move on to military records. U.S. Military Records: A Guide to Federal and State Sources, by James C. Neagles, is an excellent reference tool to find out what types of records are available and how to obtain them. Also, the appendix contains a brief history of America's military conflicts.

In the case of Edwin Dyer, we discovered from his letters that he was in the 105th Machine Gun Battalion. We were able to obtain a record of events for his battalion through the United States Army Military History Institute, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania 17013-5008 (Upton Hall). The Military History Institute is home to a plethora of historical military documents, which it makes available to the public. There is a pamphlet available, "A Guide to the United States Army military Institute," which details what records are available. The Institute is also online at . In response to our inquiry, we received copies from the Order of the United States Land Forces in the World War, American Expeditionary Forces, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1931, pages 130-139.

The record of events give us a chronological timeline for the 105th Machine Gun Battalion, 1st Cavalry, 27th Division, beginning with "Organization and Training" (15 July 1917- 27 April 1918). This section detailed the organization of the 27th Division, and which brigades formed the division. It also tells us where they were trained and that "2500 recruits and selective service men fill out the 27th Division."

Edwin's letters begin in August 1917, and are full of humor and the regular requests for "eats." His roommate Lavin Apparently has a voracious appetite and is mentioned repeatedly. "Lavin is anxious when you are going to send more eats. The pig!"

In another, more somber letter dated 29 October 1917, he tells his sister that "…we are quarantined (can't leave the tent street) as there are 3 men from 1st Cav and 2 from Squadron A who have 'spinal minegitas' (I can't spell it). I think there might be an epidemic & they make us gargle our throat & sniff salt water before every meal & they put some medicine in the drinking water. You needn't say anything to the rest about this for I am only telling you because there is talk about holding up our outgoing mail so then you wouldn't know what happened."

The next section detailed in the record of events is the "Overseas Movement" (28 April 1918 - 12 July 1918), including the dates the unit left Camp Wadsworth, sailed from Hoboken or Newport News, and arrived in Brest or St. Nazaire, France. In Edwin's letter of 17 May 1918, we get a sense of unease as he tells his sister, "We leave for the boat at 2:30. Do not wait for me to write but write often." But he still jokes, "I suppose on my way over I will lose about 50 pounds (feeding the fishes) and you know how I like the water."

The records then tell of "Training with the British in Picardy and Flanders" (28 May 1918 - 24 July 1918). The division arrived in the Rue-Buigny training area where it was affiliated with the British 66th Division. On 16 June 1918 the division moved to Abbeville, southwest of the Somme Canal, in the St. Valery-Gamanches area. From there, on 2 July 1918, they moved to the Arques area, and then, on 5 July 1918, to the vicinity of Cassel and St. Omer. On 9 July 1918, the 27th and 30th Divisions were assigned to the organization and defense of the East Poperinghe Line, and elements of the division began front-line training.

During this time, we have found only one letter from Edwin. This could be because some letters were lost, but it is more likely that they were moving around quite a bit and he didn't have time to write very often. The letter he writes is to his sister and is very brief. "Just a few lines to let you know I am still alive and kicking. As usual I have very little to say. Mostly because I can't. Everything is about the same as ever. Since my last letter we have moved to a much larger and better place although our sleeping quarters are not as nice." He goes on to ask for some addresses and for more long letters, and then, "I think I must say 'Adieu.' Don't forget to write soon. I remain, Your loving brother, Edwin."

On 19 August 1918, the sector occupation merged into the Ypres-Lys Operation. In a letter dated 21 August 1918, Edwin demonstrates "esprit de corps" as he tells his father, "Well I guess we got 'Jerry' on the run now and it won't be before long and he will realize it. I came out of the trenches Sunday night and during the short time I was in I tried to make it as uncomfortable for him as I could. I sure will bring home some sovernirs [sic] as I already have quite a collection."

Between 10 and 25 September 1918, the division participated in the occupation of the Verdun Fromereville Sector (Lorraine), where they supported the 33rd Division. We have no correspondence from Edwin at this time, but in browsing through the Center of Military History's Web site, I ran across a listing of Medal of Honor recipients for World War I. I checked for honorees from the 27th Division and found seven men from Edwin's division that were honored. All seven citations were issued for events that took place on either 27 September 1918 or 29 September 1918, near Ronssoy or Le Catelet. It's obvious that Edwin and his comrades were involved in some serious fighting at the time, and this probably accounts for the lack of correspondence.

From 24 September 1918 to 21 October 1918, the division participated in the Somme Offensive Operation. After a long dry spell, we hear from Edwin again on 4 October 1918. Though he tries to keep his tone upbeat, sadness seems to creep into this letter, and it occurs to me that he must have seen and experienced some horrible things at this point. "You ask me, how do I like the French girls? Why I haven't seen one that could even be compared with an American girl. Of course I haven't forgotten Kathleen." He signs off the letter with "xxxx Soldier's kisses (Barbed wire)."

On 23 October 1918, the division moved towards Amiens to the Corbie training area. Then, from 28 October 1918 to 11 November 1918 (Armistice Day), the division participated in the Meuse-Argonne Operation. In a letter written 3 November 1918 (eight days before the Armistice was signed), he writes that his friend Lavin is presently in the hospital suffering from gas poisoning. He also tells of another friend who is wounded.

After the treaty, Edwin's letters are filled with the anticipation of going home. "I am beginning to go on a diet so that when I reach home, I can eat 'beaucoup' of your cake, beans, and spaghetti, so you better prepare now," he warns in a letter of 18 December 1918 from le Mans. He also tells his sister that he expects to be on a boat for home by Christmas. He must have been very disappointed, because he didn't leave for home until the middle of February 1919. Edwin Brough Dyer died 1 December 1926 of the residual effects of gas poisoning from the war. His letters are a legacy of insight into the life of a World War I soldier.